Complications after arthroscopic labral repair for shoulder instability

Abstract

Arthroscopic labral repair is a widely performed and safe technique for anterior or posterior shoulder instability; however, complications have been reported in the literature. Postoperative injection of local anesthetic via an intra-articular pain pump should be avoided to prevent chondrolysis of the glenohumeral joint. Postoperative stiffness of the shoulder can be treated with physiotherapy, and a surgical treatment is indicated in shoulders that failed a conservative treatment. Although nerve injury is relatively rare, the axillary nerve should be given careful attention. Recurrent shoulder instability is the most common complication after labral repair, but most reported rates of recurrent instability after arthroscopic Bankart repair are less than 10 %. Augmentations, such as rotator interval closure and Hill-Sachs remplissage, have a potential to reduce the rate of recurrence. A better understanding of these possible complications, including their pathology and treatment, is essential for optimization of outcomes after arthroscopic labral repair.

Figures

Fig. 1

A case of axillary nerve palsy after arthroscopic Bankart repair combined with repair of capsular tear. Surgical treatment was performed at 6 months after the initial surgery, and symptoms were fully recovered in 6 months after the surgery. a The axillary nerve (arrow heads) was strangled by a suture (arrow) that passed through the nerve. b The suture and scar tissue at the strangled site were removed, and the axillary nerve was sutured (arrow)